International law firm Simmons & Simmons has announced the further expansion of its London corporate team, with the hire of Partner David Hicks.

David has spent 15 years at Charles Russell Speechlys, the last eight of which as a partner within the corporate and financial services and funds groups. His expert practice covers the full spectrum of asset management corporate matters, from hedge fund start-ups, ownership arrangements (in particular partnerships), asset manager M&A to governance matters, particularly for regulated businesses.

David’s practice compliments the Simmons & Simmons corporate practice and its strong asset management and investment funds sector focus.

In particular, David has evolved a specialist reputation in advising wealth and investment managers, fintechs, crypto and digital asset firms and insurers on many aspects of their operations and life cycle.

On David’s arrival at the firm, UK corporate head, Arthur Stewart, commented: “We are really excited about David joining the team. His arrival further builds on the strong credentials of our leading asset management corporate practice and increases our bench strength.”

Ania Rontaler, head of our corporate private markets group commented “With so much consolidation in the busy asset management sector, we are delighted to welcome David. He will also add expertise in governance and will further develop the firm’s ESG reflex and help support clients with this increasingly important area.”

On joining Simmons, David said: “With the asset management sector the subject of extensive regulatory and market change, I foresee plenty of opportunities to further build my client base, by cross-selling across Simmons’ impressive international corporate and specialist practices and leading platform for advising asset managers and investment funds.”